TGIF! We're in the Hospital

Some lessons tonight. You are NOT ready for wheat. We can confidently administer your meds. Epi-pen is worth every damn cent they charge. 

Here's our update on our at home wheat challenge: You failed. miserably.  Coughing occurred 15 minutes after ingesting three mini pretzels. Then a vomit. We thought that would be it. It wasn't. Coughing continued which can be indicative of an itchy throat, throat closing, swelling, etc. I got Hopkins on the phone, they said the reaction appears local, give Benadryl. We did. Coughing subsides. 30 minutes pass and I am watching you like a hawk.  You begin itching all over. Itching your throat. This is not good. Now a systemic response and it's moving around. I call 911 and tell daddy to get you on the ground flat. I grab the $600 Epi-pen and swing it into your left leg. You are not crying...yet.  A few seconds pass and I realize I had to stab you my son, I did it. Whew. You begin wailing and I know the needle went in. EMTs arrive and off we go to the hospital. On the way you had a third reaction. Giant hives head to toe. We are at the hospital and safe. You, my baby boy, are iv'd up and feeling better now. You are chatting about the fire truck and ambulance, typical for a two-year old.

A Feat with Wheat is on the Menu

It's the cocktail hour prior to our cousin's wedding. Many of the cousins traveled from all over the states to be together and here we are at the big shebang in Chicago! All are dressed like they're at the Oscars, and not just attending, but actually receiving an Oscar, Angelina Jolie style. And all the cousins have been practicing for some time, to surprise the bride and groom with an Indian flash mob dance! So exciting, but yet we were all pretty nervous. We had some time though, and cocktail hour was sure to relax the mood.

You at the cocktail hour, loving that wheat pouch

Not so fast though.  I turn to you and  you are eating a baby food pouch, you love them, they are virtually baby-crack, but more healthy than that.

I look at the pouch as you suck every last drop out and my heart sank, panic set in.  The picture on the front has a grain on it, I grab the now empty pouch from you and turn it around to read the label. I briefly scan the ingredient list and boom, there it is, "Kamut (wheat)" - oh my goodness. How did I miss this?? I have never messed up before. I immediately grab daddy and tell him what happen. We decide to administer Benadryl before anything happens hoping to ward off any reaction.  You gladly take your "vitamin" - and then I go over to a little corner with you in my arms and cry. I deserve the worst mom-award of 2016! I feel terrible. How could I mess up when there is zero margin for error. Many cousins, some of which are doctors come and find me and give me some pointers to watch out for. Benadryl is kicking in and making you really sleepy, which it has never done before. It usually gives you a boost of energy. Now my little party-loving, dancing baby boy is passed out in your stroller and will at best miss the reception we have all been waiting for. The reception starts, dancing performances are on. I am watching your chest go up and down in a steady rhythm. This goes on for an hour. I feel terrible still. Our flash mob happens and the rest of reception goes on. I know everyone had the most amazing time at this beautiful celebration, but I screwed up. I did not enjoy these hours at the reception,  hoping and praying, watching you like an eagle scouting it's prey, that nothing would happen.

Sleeping in your stroller while the reception goes on

The reception ended, I took ouy up to our hotel and you slept, and I continued to watch. Nothing ever happened, which makes the allergy journey all the more confusing. Your iGe for wheat has hovered in the 30s and 40s, it's your highest allergen. But then nothing happened.

On mommy's shoulders at the Baraat, waiting for the groom

You and Daddy 

Fast forward a few months and an allergy appointment later and I get a call on Monday morning September 19th 2016, it's Hopkins.  The doctor tells me that they have researched the pouch and despite your high iGe numbers for wheat, they want us to try a wheat challenge at home. I am....over the moon, elated and scared.  Doctor gives me the protocol for the wheat challenge and tells me that had you not had that accidental exposure in April, we would likely not be challenging you. We would still be strictly avoiding.  So maybe I get a pass on this one, maybe I am not the worst mother of 2016.  Here we go...stay tuned for results!

Cuckoo for Coconut

So about two weeks ago, your allergist called with the annual update and surprised us with good, but scary news. Your coconut number is likely a false positive and to proceed with trying at home.

Wow - ok, daddy and I thought. It is one thing to talk about foods getting added to our "safe" list, but to actually go through the process of adding them requires quite the courage.  We actually have to feed these once taboo foods to you and hope and pray nothing happens all while being fully ready and capable to address any reaction, which has happened in the past very quickly.

Saturday morning now, a full 24 hours since Dr. Wood's scribe called - I went out and bought the coconut water and milk and was committed to feeding it to you my baby boy.  I got home and I pushed to start. Daddy was more reluctant.  He usually is with this sort of thing.  I put some coconut water in a Tylenol-like syringe and told you it was a vitamin, which you are all too familiar with and ironically gladly ingests.  Daddy and I wait. We wait a total of about five minutes, which is usually enough time for you to react. Nothing happens.  It's real now. After four hours, nothing happened. This is what it feels like - it feels about as good as that coconut water tasted. Ecstasy. Exhilaration. Freedom. You are clear to eat coconut in all forms!! This is a cause for a celebration - which I have been doing for about the past week.  I have been celebrating by buying and cooking all things coconut! Oil, water, milk, coconuts, oh my!


I thought I would share a few of my favorites from this week's meal plan - hope you enjoy as much as we did!

• Toasted coconut brussel sprouts
• Honey garlic butter shrimp in coconut milk
• Coconut chia pudding
• Avocado coconut chia pudding

Ready, Set, Go Peanuts for the Baby!

Over the past decade, the prevalence of peanut allergies has exponentially increased.  For parents, children, families, physicians and teachers, there is significant frustration because the reason for this is still unknown.  There are many theories however, but nothing that is overwhelmingly responsible.  I will table this topic for another day. Back to the actual allergy to, rather than the cause - with this increase, peanuts are getting a lot of attention in the food allergy community and with that comes a lot of studies using them. One in particular, is known as the LEAP (Learning Early About Peanut) study. The study parameters, subjects and results were released in Q1 of 2015.

                                  

WHO: The subjects were infants (less than one year old) that were considered high-risk. High-risk equated to the infant having severe eczema (as described by the parent(s)), having a confirmed egg allergy or both.

WHAT: Some subjects will strictly avoid peanut protein until 60 months of age. The other group will receive peanut protein, regularly in their diet, multiple times per week until the age of 60 months.

ADDITIONAL INFO: Subjects were further stratified by sensitivity to peanut evidenced by a skin-prick test. Subjects experiencing a severe reaction to peanut at this point were dismissed from the study since they would likely be unable to consume the weekly requirement of peanut protein.

CONCLUSION: The results were remarkable. High-risk (eczema and/or egg allergic) infants showing mild sensitivity to peanuts or no sensitivity to peanuts via a skin-prick test that regularly ingested peanut protein until 60 months of age had a dramatically lower chance of developing an allergy to peanut when compared to the strict avoidance group.  There small window of opportunity to potentially change the infants sensitivity to peanut protein.

Ultimately what this study illustrated went against the American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) recommendation to delay peanuts.  The AAP has since revised their stance on the introduction of peanuts in high-risk infants.

In summary, at the earliest signs of eczema and/or egg allergy, an infant should be tested for a peanut allergy. If negative, introduce peanut products and have infant/child regularly consume following the LEAP protocol of at least two grams three times per week indefinitely.  If positive, complete the initial introduction of peanuts under medical supervision.